Song of Songs 8:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, beloved daughters, let us search for Christ where the Church endeavors to find Him: on those fragrant heights that, due to their immense merits, emit the delightful scent of life from the elevation of their glorious actions. He avoids the streets, steers clear of the crowds and commerce, as it is written, ‘Flee, my beloved; be like a deer or a young stag on the mountains of balsam.’ He has an aversion to creeping things, shuns dogs, and dislikes serpents that crawl upon the ground. He longs to reside solely on the peaks of virtue and wishes to dwell among those daughters of the Church who can declare, ‘We are Christ's fragrance to God’ (2 Cor. 2:15).

Inviting the just to enter Your kingdom, established since the world's creation, like the 'young man' of the vessels, vanquish the venomous creatures, the malevolent spirits that rise up against us, and cease the discord they stir among the faithful.

In this declaration, it is acknowledged that Christ stands as the sole individual on earth, the only true man, though born in a mysterious manner. He is the genuine outsider and sojourner (1 Pet. 2:11), who, with every effort, distanced Himself from the disgraceful unions with humanity, and ascended alone to the anticipated heights of fragrance, becoming Sovereign over both heaven and earth. This illustrates that only Christ transcended both the internal and external transgressions. He alone, the wanderer among a corrupt and distorted people, overcame the devil, the outcast of heaven.

In response to these words, the bride, as is customary, directs her attention to the Church, saying, "Run, my beloved; be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices!" (Song of Songs 8:14). This statement aptly reflects the glorious ascension of the Lord and the ongoing realization of this within the sacred Church. The beloved hastens toward His bride and sister, for upon the completion of our salvation, He ascends back to the heavenly realm. He is compared to a young deer or chamois on the fragrant mountains because He continually manifests Himself through the gift of sincere repentance in the hearts of His devoted followers, who represent the aromatic heights. These faithful individuals, through divine love, reject base desires and, having been purified from the foulness of sin, are instead filled with the delightful fragrances of spiritual grace, affirming with the apostle, "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20).

While her brothers deliberate on how to rescue their young sister, who is too immature for them, she mocks their plans and reminds them of the time they entrusted her with the stewardship of Solomon's vineyard, which yielded significant gains for both Solomon and his appointed guardians. However, when she hears the voice of her beloved, she urges him to come swiftly to her.